diff --git a/fedn/network/combiner/hooks/hook_client.py b/fedn/network/combiner/hooks/hook_client.py
index 340305881..3219e5a17 100644
--- a/fedn/network/combiner/hooks/hook_client.py
+++ b/fedn/network/combiner/hooks/hook_client.py
@@ -17,19 +17,22 @@ class CombinerHookInterface:
 
     def __init__(self):
         """Initialize CombinerHookInterface client."""
-        self.hook_service_host = os.getenv("HOOK_SERVICE_HOST", "hook:12081")
-        self.channel = grpc.insecure_channel(
-            self.hook_service_host,
-            options=[
-                ("grpc.keepalive_time_ms", 30000),  # 30 seconds ping interval
-                ("grpc.keepalive_timeout_ms", 5000),  # 5 seconds timeout for a response
-                ("grpc.keepalive_permit_without_calls", 1),  # allow keepalives even with no active calls
-                ("grpc.enable_retries", 1),  # automatic retries
-                ("grpc.initial_reconnect_backoff_ms", 1000),  # initial delay before retrying
-                ("grpc.max_reconnect_backoff_ms", 5000),  # maximum delay before retrying
-            ],
-        )
-        self.stub = rpc.FunctionServiceStub(self.channel)
+        try:
+            self.hook_service_host = os.getenv("HOOK_SERVICE_HOST", "hook:12081")
+            self.channel = grpc.insecure_channel(
+                self.hook_service_host,
+                options=[
+                    ("grpc.keepalive_time_ms", 30000),  # 30 seconds ping interval
+                    ("grpc.keepalive_timeout_ms", 5000),  # 5 seconds timeout for a response
+                    ("grpc.keepalive_permit_without_calls", 1),  # allow keepalives even with no active calls
+                    ("grpc.enable_retries", 1),  # automatic retries
+                    ("grpc.initial_reconnect_backoff_ms", 1000),  # initial delay before retrying
+                    ("grpc.max_reconnect_backoff_ms", 5000),  # maximum delay before retrying
+                ],
+            )
+            self.stub = rpc.FunctionServiceStub(self.channel)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Failed to initialize connection to hooks container with error {e}")
 
     def provided_functions(self, server_functions: str):
         """Communicates to hook container and asks which functions are available.
@@ -39,10 +42,14 @@ def provided_functions(self, server_functions: str):
         :return: dictionary specifing which functions are implemented.
         :rtype: dict
         """
-        request = fedn.ProvidedFunctionsRequest(function_code=server_functions)
+        try:
+            request = fedn.ProvidedFunctionsRequest(function_code=server_functions)
 
-        response = self.stub.HandleProvidedFunctions(request)
-        return response.available_functions
+            response = self.stub.HandleProvidedFunctions(request)
+            return response.available_functions
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Was not able to communicate to hooks container due to: {e}")
+            return {}
 
     def client_settings(self, global_model) -> dict:
         """Communicates to hook container to get a client config.
diff --git a/fedn/network/combiner/roundhandler.py b/fedn/network/combiner/roundhandler.py
index 5eb5387d8..fa3d83e8f 100644
--- a/fedn/network/combiner/roundhandler.py
+++ b/fedn/network/combiner/roundhandler.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def push_round_config(self, round_config: RoundConfig) -> str:
             raise
         return round_config["_job_id"]
 
-    def _training_round(self, config, clients, provided_functions):
+    def _training_round(self, config: dict, clients: list, provided_functions: dict):
         """Send model update requests to clients and aggregate results.
 
         :param config: The round config object (passed to the client).
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def _training_round(self, config, clients, provided_functions):
         session_id = config["session_id"]
         model_id = config["model_id"]
 
-        if provided_functions["client_settings"]:
+        if provided_functions.get("client_settings", False):
             global_model_bytes = self.modelservice.temp_model_storage.get(model_id)
             client_settings = self.hook_interface.client_settings(global_model_bytes)
             config["client_settings"] = client_settings
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def _training_round(self, config, clients, provided_functions):
                 parameters = Parameters(dict_parameters)
             else:
                 parameters = None
-            if provided_functions["aggregate"]:
+            if provided_functions.get("aggregate", False):
                 previous_model_bytes = self.modelservice.temp_model_storage.get(model_id)
                 model, data = self.hook_interface.aggregate(previous_model_bytes, self.update_handler, helper, delete_models=delete_models)
             else:
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ def execute_training_round(self, config):
 
         provided_functions = self.hook_interface.provided_functions(self.server_functions)
 
-        if provided_functions["client_selection"]:
+        if provided_functions.get("client_selection", False):
             clients = self.hook_interface.client_selection(clients=self.server.get_active_trainers())
         else:
             clients = self._assign_round_clients(self.server.max_clients)